Head-Mounted Display Tilt Detection for Endoscopic Hygiene

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Solution Overview

Problem

In medical settings, particularly during endoscopic surgeries, existing head-mounted displays (HMDs) require manual adjustment by a helper due to hygiene constraints, making it difficult to ensure the correct positioning of the display surfaces relative to the user's eyes without checking displayed images, which can lead to blurred or out-of-focus 3D images.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted display equipped with a detector, such as an acceleration sensor, that detects the angle of tilt relative to the horizontal plane and an output unit, like LEDs or a speaker, to indicate the tilt status, allowing the helper to adjust and fix the HMD's position without the user's direct assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a helper adjusts the HMD mounting position, then the user does not need to touch the HMD (hygiene compliance), but it becomes difficult to check position relationships between eyes and display surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene contaminationVSAvoidposition relationship detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system consisting of markers attached to the HMD and eyes, along with a camera and processing unit. This intermediary system enables indirect measurement of position relationships without requiring direct visual inspection by the helper, thus maintaining hygiene compliance while solving the detection difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual visual inspection method with an automated optical measurement system. Instead of relying on the helper's visual assessment of position relationships, the system uses markers, camera imaging, and computational processing to automatically determine and verify the correct mounting position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the user adjusts the HMD mounting position themselves, then position relationships can be accurately checked, but the user must touch the HMD (hygiene violation)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition relationship accuracyVSAvoidhygiene contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement intermediary system allows accurate position relationship verification without the user needing to physically adjust or touch the HMD. The markers and camera system provides precise measurement capability that was previously only achievable through direct user adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service mounting verification by automatically measuring and indicating whether the HMD is correctly positioned. The processing unit analyzes the captured images and provides feedback, allowing the mounting process to be completed autonomously without user intervention in the adjustment phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the HMD is mounted without checking displayed images, then adjustment can be done quickly, but blurred or out-of-focus images may be generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurement and verification of the mounting position using markers and camera imaging before the user actually uses the HMD. This preliminary action ensures correct positioning is achieved and verified beforehand, preventing image quality issues from occurring in the first place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional method of checking image quality (which requires the user to view displayed images and manually adjust) with an automated optical measurement system. This substitution enables rapid objective verification of mounting accuracy without requiring iterative adjustment based on subjective image quality assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the correct and efficient adjustment of the HMD's position, ensuring clear 3D images during surgeries by providing visual or auditory feedback on the tilt status, thus facilitating more accurate and rapid endoscopic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a detector for detecting an angle of tilt of the head-mounted display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9927617B2Head-mounted display which provides an indication of an angle of tilt therefor relative to a wearer

Publication Date: 2018.03.27 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

According to an illustrative embodiment, a head-mounted display is provided. The head-mounted display includes a detector for detecting an angle of tilt of the head-mounted display; and an output unit for outputting an indication of the angle of tilt.